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Here's the indictment for Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY). Feds announced insider trading charges against him and his sons this morning. Collins was an early supporter of Trump's presidential campaign and served on Trump’s transition team. documentcloud.org/documents/4639…
2/ A few observations: Collins was attending a **congressional picnic at the White House** when he committed many of the criminal acts for which he has been charged. 
3/ Collins was already under investigation for insider trading (via OCE) at the time he committed the criminal acts set forth in the indictment.
4/ Counts One and Nine are charged as Conspiracy (Securities/Wire) — netting in “others known and unknown.” There may be (and likely are) others who can be charged.
5/ Collins’ attorneys respond: “We are confident he will be completely vindicated and exonerated.”
6/ It is clear from the indictment that Collins was subject to wire surveillance at the time of his offenses, as a result of an ongoing investigation into his insider trading. This was in June 2017. Presumably, he has been under investigation for over a year. Imagine the dirt...
7/ As to that White House picnic, here are the ‘Remarks by President Trump and Vice President Pence at the Congressional Picnic’, Issued on: June 22, 2017: whitehouse.gov/briefings-stat…
8/ Here are Trump and Pence at that June 22, 2017, White House Congressional Picnic, where Collins committed many of his criminal acts:
9/ Collins was being investigated for sharing insider trading tips with Trump appointee Tom Price. buffalonews.com/2017/05/16/con…
10/ Here is the October, 2017, OGE Report—Collins violated law by sharing nonpublic info about a company on whose board he served & broke House ethics rules by meeting w NIH and asking for help w design of a clinical trial being set up by the company ethics.house.gov/sites/ethics.h…)
11/ The OGE report says “Collins pitched Innate to nearly everyone he met, discussing the company with members of Congress and his own staff, “most” of whom were also investors. “The bigger question would be, who haven’t I talked to?” Two of Collins’s children also owned stock.”
12/ The report found Collins frequently updated shareholders on the company’s activity, including nonpublic info, in violation of federal law and House rules.
13/ Some of the nonpublic information he shared in emails, included details about how many participants had enrolled in the company’s crucial clinical trial and details about the company’s communications with large drugmakers who might be interested in acquiring Innate. (OGE Rpt)
14/ In case you were wondering how @FoxNews covered the October, 2017, OGE report about Collins: (foxnews.com/politics/2017/…)
15/ Here is @louiseslaughter Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) on her Act banning Congressional insider trading, March, 18, 2018. Passed House 417-2 & later was signed into law: c-span.org/video/?c471937…
16/ With how many Republicans at that White House Congressional Picnic on June 22, 2017, did Collins share his insider trading information? The American people demand to know the truth about the extent of this corruption.
17/ Speaker Paul Ryan on Rep. Collins: "Until this matter is settled, Rep. Collins will no longer be serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”
18/ Memories: (March 2017) Michael Caputo @MichaelRCaputo puts up a billboard thanking @RepChrisCollins buffalonews.com/2017/03/06/cap…
19/ More memories: (October 2016):
20/ Here is the SDNY press release on the Collins indictments: justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/c…
21/ Now is a good time to AGAIN remind @realDonaldTrump of his campaign promise to release his tax returns. Did he, his companies or his family members own Innate stock? If so, did they sell their positions, and when? Releasing the tax returns will answer these questions.
22/ Did Ivanka Trump or Jared Kushner, who work for the White House, own Innate stock, directly or through investment proxies? The American people want to know.
23/ These are the Republicans whom Rep. Collins recruited to invest in Innate, according to Politico.
24/ Chris Collins was a member of Trump's presidential transition team. According to Fox News, he was part of the Trump team's **executive committee** headed up by Mike Pence @VP. foxnews.com/politics/2016/…
25/ Chris Collins was the first congressional representative to endorse @realDonaldTrump. Here is the now-indicted for insider trading Chris Collins singing Donald Trump’s praises:
26/ I have just begun examining the congressional vote records of and bills sponsored by Chris Collins, but it is highly likely that we will find that he performed official acts in his role as a congressman in exchange for personal enrichment.
https://twitter.com/sdnynews/status/1027240103889055744?s=21
27/ To have 'bribery,' there must be direct proof quid pro quo as required by US Supreme Court in McDonnell v United States, 579 U.S. ___ (2016). In short, the practice of political patronage has long history in US.
28/ Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in McDonnell v United States and in McCutcheon v. FEC, 572 U.S. ___ (2014), which eliminates legal bribery altogether, absent a smoking gun proving quid pro quo.
29/ Here is documentation that Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York, was the first congressional rep to endorse @realDonaldTrump: “Trump understands the importance of American exceptionalism, and has the unique qualifications to make America great again." abcnews.go.com/Politics/donal…
30/ It’s important to examine Collins’ history in Congress. He won the 2012 election for US House, representing NY’s 27th Dist, narrowly defeating incumbent Kathy Hochul (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012. (elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/electio…)
31/ After the effects of Citizens United made its way through the country’s campaign coffers, Collins’ path to election victory became much easier.
32/ The issue extends well beyond insider trading. Let’s consider 18 U.S. Code Chapter 11 - BRIBERY, GRAFT, AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18…
33/ In particular, 18 U.S. Code § 203 - Compensation to Members of Congress, officers & others in matters affecting the Govt. Why did Collins serve on the board of Innate while also serving in US Congress & what laws did he affect for personal enrichment? law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18…
34/ It appears as though @JustinGlawe has already done some of the leg work here. thedailybeast.com/congressman-pu…
35/ This is amazing. 🏆
https://twitter.com/theotherkeppler/status/1027218381332725760?s=21
36/ Honestly, this is a Kremlin tactic. I am curious to know more about Chris Collins’ ties to Russia.
https://twitter.com/justinglawe/status/1027260748576239617?s=21
37/ Here is Collins on July 16, 2018, calling for an end to the Mueller investigation. wkbw.com/news/rep-colli…
38/ Chalk one up for America’s #FreePress 🏆🏆
https://twitter.com/saraecook/status/1027245254502739968?s=21
39/ Information about possible co-conspirators of Collins.
https://twitter.com/byjohnfrank/status/1027214754765361152?s=21
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